Friday Fun

Seeing as how I am still reading my Friday Reads choice from about a month ago, I'd say it's time to move forward with something else right now.  And I don't know about you, but I am in need of some FUN in life.  This all work and no play is for the birds.  Angry birds, that is.

So, yes, I am still reading Lost and Found, and really do love it.  Sadly, I just don't have the time or inclination to read often right now.  I have figured out that when I am this busy at work, I really have to just do NOTHING on down time.  Nothing is good.  Nothing allows me to watch Revenge and Modern Family and maybe a little Y & R every now and then.

I was looking on a few of my favorite websites yesterday and came across 5 Loves and a Dud over on Chick Lit is Not Dead.  First of all, I love any of these questionnaires that can tell us more about the people we are reading.  I almost feel like I know them after reading something like that.  And of course, I always want to write one of these myself.  So my Friday Fun is about 5 Loves and a Dud.

5 Loves:

1. Down time.  I have to say, if there is anything I have learned to love in the past two months, it's a little down time.  Unfortunately, I haven't experienced it enough lately, but when I do, it's literally the best part of my week.  Sad, I know.  The biggest problem I have is when I do have an occasional moment to myself, I can't unwind or relax.  I will always be a work in progress I guess.
2. Inappropriate Thursdays.  Yes, I said it, and I pray that no one at Corporate reads this blog.  For whatever reason, things will get a little raunchy at work on those days and we will sit and giggle like 12 year-olds about the stupidest things.  For instance, yesterday Debbie was desperate to fit the word tongued into her Words with Friends game, which led us to a discussion of whether it was even a word (it is!), and then of course we had to fit it into a sentence.  Not pretty, and I'm sure I revealed too much, but boy did we giggle.  I'm giggling thinking about it now.

3. Sunday Comfort Meals.  There is something to be said about working all day on Sunday, then coming home to a glass of wine and preparing a meal that will comfort old and young.  A few weeks ago I made sausage lasagna roll ups, and it was the most heavenly experience.  It makes it all okay, and I find myself ready to face the week a little better then.  Mmmmm, love comfort meals.

4. Going to Movies.  Here is another thing I just don't do enough.  I love, love, LOVE, going to movies.  It is one thing that never disappoints me.  Even if the movie is just okay, I still have the popcorn.  I loved the hushed theater.  I love thinking about how the writers, directors, and editors worked behind the scenes to create the movie.  I love it all.  And then when there's a movie with Ryan Gosling?  Wow... I think that says it all.

5. Books.  I can't explain my obsession with books.  It is the one true thing in my life that has been a constant since I was a kid... besides the whole skating thing.  They comfort me in a way I can't describe, but I'll try.  We all know I'm not reading much right now, but it hasn't stopped me from weekly trips to the library and scouring the web for new books.  I want to see what's coming out, who's writing what, and what's popular.  I keep checking books out thinking my down time will consist of reading an entire book in one sitting.  Not so much, but it's not for lack of trying. 

One Dud

1. Guilt.  Nothing can ruin a mood, moment, or life even, than a giant plate of guilt.  Maybe it's a woman thing or a Catholic thing, but I have been guilty my whole life, and quite frankly, I'm sick of it!  I know I will never be "guilt-free", but I am trying to manage it a little bit better.  I am caring a little less about what other's think, which is #1 in the Guilt Commandments.  I'm just trying to figure out what I like and letting go of the baggage of my thoughts.  Stop laughing... I'm really trying. 

So there you have it... 5 Loves and a Dud on a Fun Friday.

I hope you can have a Fun Friday too!

pause

Did you ever wish there was a pause button in life?  A secret panel we could go to that could either pause, fast-forward, or even rewind moments during our day?  Some days it seems that we may be stuck in one of those modes, either in fast-forward or the dreaded slow-motion work day.  


It is clear to me that everyone around me is in the same boat in a lake called Chaos.  When I talk to other moms it's as if busy was a competition and everyone is trying to win.  Kids are over scheduled and under-slept.  Hell, we are over-scheduled and under-slept.  I don't know anyone who is living the life of their dreams, and that is probably the saddest statement I have ever written.  


In the past month I have been trying to get a grip on my mood swings, and honestly feel better than I have in a while.  However, I have noticed that the things I love to do have fallen by the wayside and I am still trying to fill the planner instead of finding some open space.  I have completely missed the pause button.  


One of my learn to skate parents buried her husband on Saturday.  He was in his 40's and had been sick for quite some time.  She was in yesterday with her daughter, and all I could do was hug her to let her know that she wasn't alone.  I barely know her, and yet I felt compelled to comfort this broken woman.  I don't know if it helped her, but in an odd way I felt better.


So last night I made a decision to pause at least once a day to try and remember what life is all about.  It isn't about winning, working the hardest, and having the most things.  It's about surrounding yourself with the people and things you love, so that even Lake Chaos feels less wavy.  


I know our lives won't change anytime soon, so you might as well learn to go with the flow and enjoy who you're with and what you're doing.  


And every now and then pause to remember why you're here.

Light

At Christmastime, my mom used to go a little crazy in the head.  You may think I'm kidding, but if you knew her, you know exactly what I mean.  Christmas was hands-down her favorite time of year when she could shop and decorate to her little heart's desire.  


And by decorate I mean Snow Village.

This isn't hers, but it was similar...and by similar, I mean bigger

For those of you who have no idea what Snow Village is let me explain.  It is another world.  I'm not even sure if it's even still popular, but I'm sure there's someone who still collects the houses and stores, trees, cars, people, animals, fake snow,and of course those little light fixtures that go inside each home.  My mom built a village every freakin year.  (Yes, she is giggling from the grave right now.)  She always joked that I would get the Snow Village after she was gone, because she knew I would take the time to put it up.  And I have to say, after all these years, I kinda miss it.  


My favorite part was going over there in the evening and viewing it all lit up.  All the houses looked cozy with the soft glow of lighting and always reminded me of hot chocolate and warm cookies.  


Today, because of the dreariness, I am reminded of that soft glow of lighting and it got me thinking.... can we cast a light ourselves on the people around us?  Can we light up today just by being "lighter" to the people around us?  I am going to try since today is Monday, and dreary, and simply because I know it will make a difference.  


Is your light on?  


Oh, and if you know anyone who collects Snow Village, I have a few pieces I could sell them :)

Happy

It dawned on me last night as I was reading my happy book, that I had stopped writing about the words in my blog.  I had started this because I truly believe that when we live our lives according to certain words, our lives change for the better (or worse, depending on your words).  For instance, when we try to go through our day with strength on the brain, we might make different choices.  Some people need calm while others might need a dose of energy.  All of the words mean something different to everyone and that's what is so perfect about it.  The words are yours to live.  


Let me repeat that:  

The words are yours to live.

How could I have forgotten this?  Told y'all I was lost.  Well, I'm back and working on the word happy at the moment.  I lost happy too somewhere along the path, and I have been on a search for it the past two weeks (see below).  

What I have learned that it was never really gone, but that I just have a knack for finding all the crap in life to worry and stress about.  Somewhere along the path, I stopped looking at the flowers and could only see the weeds.  And I hate weeds.

So my word today, and every day, is happy.  I will leave you with this since I think it sums it up pretty darn good.

Have a happy day.

Friday Reads

Good Morning!

For some reason, I am up with the chickens this morning and wanting to write.  And when that happens, I don't ask why, it's best to just go with it.  When God gives you time to write, you take it, no questions asked.

So last Friday I posted on here the book Be Happy, and I'm happy to say that I still love it.  It wasn't a one-chapter wonder like many self-help books are, and I have found the exercises in it profound.  This one is the real deal, and even though I am still reading and learning, I am going to move onto another book this week because fiction is a callin'!  What?  You've never read two books at once and kept up with the new Fall line up of shows?  

This week I am starting Lost and Found by Jacqueline Sheehan.  After searching for hours for a new book, I finally found this one.  I have to admit that I read the reviews much more than I ever used to, and everyone seemed to love this story.  I haven't started it yet (again, catching up on Fall programming is killing me), but I do know this Buddy-look alike is one of the main characters.  Plus, I have been lost for about a month now, and would like to be found myself.  


Win-win.


I hope you all have a Fabulous Friday!

Friday Reads

Yes, I am aware that if this were a true column, I'd probably be fired by now.  As much as I was looking forward to Fall and the change of schedules, I am not as good at transitioning as I used to be.  Mornings are busy, nights are busy, and I am somewhere lost in between.  Lost being the operative word here.

I've been here before, written about it many times, and know that some of you are on this island with me.  And like the fictional TV show Lost, this island will haunt you till you think you're losing your mind.  Just between you and me though, I'm really hoping we're not all dead and this is limbo.  That would totally suck.

Anyhoo, reading is really not my favorite thing to do when I'm here.  I'm too distracted thinking "poor me" thoughts to focus on anything good, so when I came across a book called Be Happy  by Robert Holden last weekend, I thought what the hell?

I'm only about a quarter of the way through it, and almost gave up on it till this morning when I got to Chapter 6, A Tale of Two Selves.  Now I'm hooked and starting to see that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.  Granted, it's a long tunnel in that this is supposed to be an "8-week course," but I am finding that this might be the rope to pull me out of my apathetic, self-destructive ways.

So, if you're feeling a little lost like I am, get yourself a copy and follow along with me.  Life is too short to be lost on a lonely, twisted island with nothing good to read.  Join me, won't you?

Chocolate therapy

I know you all know what I mean by chocolate therapy.

It's comfort.
It's happiness.
Sundays Somedays, it's even love.

This is one of those days.  This is one of those days when not even a cookie will do...I need a brownie.  And surprisingly, I find that brownies are even easier to make than cookies, require less ingredients, and make the entire home smell like the Keebler tree house in no time!

Usually a box mix will do, but since Toby did the shopping (with Evan no less) there will be no mixes this week.  So from scratch it is!  Any cookbook will have a basic brownie recipe, but my favorite ones require you to melt the butter with the chocolate before adding it to the sugar.  Mmmmmm.  They make the best batter.

Sigh....

As I sit here, the calm before the storm of this week, I can bake and write, knowing tonight will be peaceful.  No games.  Homework is done (cross your fingers).  And I am writing/reading after an extremely long day.

So, hopefully I have encouraged you to get out your mixers tonight and enjoy this last bit of summer.

"My Favorite Brownie"

1 Stick butter
2 oz unsweetened chocolate (I didn't have that so just used some chocolate chips instead.  That I ALWAYS  have.
1 Cup Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Melt the butter and chocolate over low heat.  Remove and cool slightly.  Blend in sugar and vanilla, and beat eggs in one at a time.  Stir in salt, baking powder, flour, and nuts.

Bake @ 350 for 20-25 minutes until set in center.  Do not cool before cutting and burning your tongue on a piping hot corner piece.  Or if you're really having a day, skip dinner and enjoy a warm brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

How's that for some chocolate therapy?

Have a fabulous week!